Ordinance against rape is a response to the public mood

The decision to promulgate an ordinance to make the laws pertaining to crimes against women stiffer is a political move on part of the United Progressive Alliance government.

With the Verma panel set up to study the laws submitting its report in quick time, the ruling coalition wanted to send out
the message that it meant business when it had promised action in the
wake of the gang rape incident.

That the government has chosen the ordinance route when the Budget session of Parliament is weeks away only goes to show the importance it attaches to public sentiment over the issue.

The public outrage over the gang rape is behind the decision to go beyond the Verma panel's prescription

Again, it is public outrage over the gangrape incident that is behind the decision to go beyond the Verma panel's prescription and introduce death penalty as the maximum punishment in cases of rape which lead to death or leave the victim in a vegetative state.

In keeping with the panel's recommendations, the penal provisions for gangrape have been made stiffer and new offences of voyeurism, stalking, and disrobing a woman introduced.

Putting in provisions for acid attacks under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code should work as a deterrent against this crime. However the government's failure to go the distance on certain issues has been rightly criticised by women's groups.

The Verma panel was right in recommending that prosecution for sexual crimes committed by armed forces should not need a sanction, as mandated under the AFSPA, but the government has chosen to toe a statist line on the issue.

With the failure to make marital rape an offence evoking strong reactions, there is clearly a need for wider discussions on the issue.

Again, though the Verma panel wanted the age of consent lowered from 18 to 16, the government has obstinately stuck to its stand on the matter.

These issues must be discussed threadbare when the provisions of the ordinance are sought to be made the law of the land.

Politics behind Mamata decision on Rushdie

The impromptu ban on Salman Rushdie entering Kolkata demonstrates not only the growing intolerance of artistic and creative expression in this country, but also reflects a deep-rooted problem of our fractured polity: the need to appease all groups at different times for the sake of votes.

The chain of events leading to Mr Rushdie's ban reveals a predictable trajectory. Mr Rushdie is invited by Kolkata Literary Meet (KLM) to promote the film adaptation of his book, Midnight's Children, which, in fact, is not deemed to hurt sentiments.

A cleric's request to chief minister Mamata Bannerjee to stop Mr Rushdie's visit, is heeded to and the KLM organisers deny having invited him.

The receiver and provider of benefits - the politicians, the religious leaders, the corporate sponsors and the festival organisers - blend in a vicious circle.

Although identity politics is prevalent across India, West Bengal's relative lack of social transformation makes it particularly prone to a politics of appeasement.

On this occasion it is Mamata Banerjee's hunt for the Muslim vote that has made a pariah out of Mr Rushdie.

However, neither can social transformation come about by power politics, nor can innovative thought thrive in an environment of intellectual and creative suffocation.

Cricket cannot flourish in such circumstances

That the relationship between BCCI president N Srinivasan and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is special was well known.

After all, it was Mr Srinivasan who scuttled the selectors' bid to have a new skipper for the Indian team for Test matches.

But the close ties between the two men have got yet another stamp with Dhoni being named vice-president of India Cements, owned by Mr Srinivasan- he already leads the Indian Premier League team owned by the BCCI president.

When series whitewashes in England and Australia could not effect a change in the team leadership, it was more than evident that Dhoni had friends at high places.

It is indeed a sorry state of affairs when the Indian captain chooses to skip the prestigious Irani Trophy for rest before the Australia Test series, but is included in the India Cements squad for the Corporate Trophy.

Indian cricket has been through tough times lately and it is difficult to see how it can get back on track without such nepotism being done away with.

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